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the medicine chest of the people... In the Garden | Culinary | Fragrance | Medicinal use Popular garden varieties
Elderberry Flower |
Top In the GardenGrowth Characteristics: - Perennial, Deciduous, Frost hardy,
- Shrub or small tree, Height: ±6m; Spread: ±3m,
- Heads of creamy white flowers appear in summer, leading to shiny. blue-black berries in autumn,
- The flowers attract bees while the berries are eaten by birds,
Cultivation: - Full sun; Well drained, composted soil,
Harvesting: - Pick flowers in spring, berries in autumn and fresh leaves throughout the year,
Repellant for: - Elder leaves are boiled and strained to make a natural insecticidal spray,
Top Culinary use Fresh flowers: - Made into elderflower wine, summer drinks, jams and jellies - adding a muscatel flavour,
- Fried in batter to make elderflower fritters,
- Dried flowers are made into tea,
The Berries: - Made into jams or jellies and the juice can be fermented into elderberry wine,
- Use in chutneys, sauces,
- To flavour and colour stewed fruits and jellies,
- Juice is boiled with sugar to make a cordial (elderberry rob), flavoured with ginger and cloves,
Top Fragrance- Flowers have a lovely muscatel scent,
- Improve the complexion by splashing cold elderflower tea daily onto the face.It will also tone and soothe the skin,
Top Medicinal useElder may be beneficial in the following cases: | General | - Berries contain Vitamin C and Iron,
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| Nervous System | - Juice of cooked berries: Headaches,
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| Skin | - Leaves and bark: Topical for minor burns and chilblains,
- Flowers: Topical for irritated or inflamed skin,
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| Lymphatic System | - A rich source of anthocyanins, a group of antioxidants that help protect the body against diseases,
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| Respiratory System | - Flowers and berries: Influenza, Colds, Catarrh, Sinusitis, and feverish illnesses,
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| Digestive system | - Bark, Berries: Constipation,
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| Urinary System | - Leaves and berries: diuretic,
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| Musculo / Skeletal System | - Fruit: Rheumatic complaints,
- Bark: Arthritic conditions,
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Preparation and dosage: TEA: - Flowers: 2 teaspoons in a cup of boiling water, infuse for 5 minutes. Drink half-1 cup two-hourly for acute conditions,
- Cold tea is laxative and sedative,
- Hot tea excites and stimulates,
FLOWER TINCTURE: - 2-4 ml three times per day.
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